Food safety draft stipulates stricter online regulations

BEIJING - China has published and is soliciting public opinion on a draft revision to the country's food safety regulation, which stipulates stricter rules for online food sales.

The draft, published by the State Council's Legislative Affairs Office on Wednesday, stipulates liabilities for food producers as well as operators of online sales platforms for food safety violations.

If any food producer has been punished for food safety problems, online sales platforms should immediately stop serving the offender, according to the draft.

The draft says China's food safety law and regulations should also be applied to imports and exports of food through e-commerce channels.

The draft also says that in cases in which any inedible substance is found in foods, producers and business operators are obliged to present proper evidence to answer any reasonable doubts, or they will be held liable for food additive violations.

The public is invited to comment on the draft via multiple means at any time before Nov 19.